Friends of GALA

✨🏫☀️Meet Principal Dr. Ackerman-Hicks from Girls Academic Leadership Academy, a 2026 Principal of the Year Finalist. Principal Dr. Ackerman-Hicks is representing LAschoolsSouth. Congratulations!

To view finalists, visit http://lausd.org/POY

//Celebrating a milestone moment// ✨
Honored to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Liz Hicks at GALA’s Launch Her Future event — recognizing her retirement and lasting impact as a visionary leader. 💜
This year is even more meaningful as GALA marks 10 years of empowering young women to lead and thrive. We’re also proud to honor trailblazers leading with purpose:
• Renata Simril, LA84 Foundation
• Stephanie Wiggins, LA Metro
• Dr. Emma Louden, Slooh

Here’s to a decade of impact — and what’s ahead. 💫
MTA LA84 Foundation Slooh

Shout out to our new GALA dad affinity parent group! Helping to beautify our school campus with brand new benches.

What a day at GALA’s Young Women’s Career Conference last week! ✨
💫 100+ powerful women leaders.
💫 One campus full of future changemakers.

When girls hear real stories from women leading in STEM, tech, medicine, law, and creative industries, something powerful happens — confidence grows, purpose sharpens, and momentum begins.
Learn more: FoGALA.org

// YWCC | March 6 // Meet another wave of the more than 100 inspiring speakers who will be showing GALA students what’s possible. More powerful women. More real-world inspiration. More access and impact. 💥

YWCC brings women leaders across STEM, tech, medicine, law & creative industries to campus — creating real access to real role models for girls in grades 6–12.

This year’s theme: Hustle with Purpose. Lead with Confidence.Make Your Mark.
🔗 fogala.org/ywcc
:

Today we celebrate Dr. Hicks — and decades of lives forever changed because she believed in our girls before the world did. The Dr. Hicks Founder’s Scholarship is awarded to a senior who lives the values of GALA: Excellence. Leadership. Wellness. Honor.

If Dr. Hicks has ever inspired you, challenged you, mentored you, or made you believe in your own greatness — this is your moment to give back in her honor.

🎓 Help fund a scholar.
🎉 Celebrate a legacy.
💜Change a future.

Here is the Zeffy link to accept donations to the scholarship in her honor: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-dr-hicks-founders-scholarship

💥March 6. One powerful day. 100+ women leaders. 💥
YWCC brings 100+ accomplished women across STEM, tech, medicine, law, and creative industries to campus — giving girls in grades 6–12 real access to real role models.
:
Meet just a few of the powerful women leaders joining us, building the future and inviting our students to step into it.
Theme: Hustle with Purpose. Lead with Confidence. Make Your Mark.
👏 Representation opens doors.
👏 Access changes everything.
👏 This is how futures are built.
https://www.fogala.org/ywcc

Hola GALA families! Our school community has several exciting events coming up, and we need your help to make them successful!

I also know that sometimes it can feel like everywhere you turn, someone is asking for a donation or support. We understand that — and it’s true that we simply can’t host these meaningful events without the collective support of our GALA families.

If everyone looks into their heart and finds that one thing (or more) where they feel they can give, it truly makes a difference. You don’t have to be in 8th grade to support the dance. You don’t have to attend YWCC to contribute to the guest room. You don’t have to celebrate Lunar New Year to support that student event. When each of us takes a small piece, together we create something big for our school home and family.

Here are some ways to help:
Sign Up and Volunteer your time ...
- YWCC Volunteer, go to: https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/5080948A8AA28A2FB6-62098082-ywcc

- 8th Grade Set Up/Break Down Volunteer here: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fm.signupgenius.com%2F%23!%2FshowSignUp%2F10C0E4CACAE29AAFFC25-62316886-2030&data=05%7C02%7C%7C0fde56e5e0e7460c519f08de71a748d5%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639073160470870912%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=nR%2F35%2F43yP01qXriFI6dpXghXONFLWXBRoEAJ8d9GnY%3D&reserved=0

- For chaperon or other volunteer opportunities, please read the Sunday newsletters

- Donate supplies for Lunar New Year that the students will celebrate on March 4th during lunch. Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3HQR8KCFIVDM5?ref_=wl_share

- Contribute items for the YWCC guest green room. Got to: https://m.signupgenius.com/ #!/showSignUp/20F0D45AEAA28AAF58-62203323-gala

- Help with decorations or supplies for the 8th Grade Dance. Got to: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.signupgenius.com%2Fgo%2F10C0E4CACAE29AAFFC25-62316886-2030%3FuseFullSite%3Dtrue%23%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C0fde56e5e0e7460c519f08de71a748d5%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639073160470907686%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=OpOCb0Dm1joryGsWru26Mtd%2BEBREWtgEtGxlALeqxgE%3D&reserved=0

Attend and most importantly spread the word to friends and your personal network to our upcoming Launch Her Future event which will take place at USC's Town & Gown Hall on April 9th. For event tickets & donations go to: https://givebutter.com/launchherfuture

If you’re able to help in any way, please do. Thank you for being part of what makes our school community so special💜

Angie Gomez
GALA Community Representative
Family and Community Engagement

Launch HER Future Launch HER Future is FoGALA’s annual fundraiser supporting the future of GALA students. We can’t wait to gather for breakfast — RSVP now to celebrate 10 years of growth, impact, and possibility together!

A GALA student is working on her AP Research project and is looking for feedback. Her research focuses on the health experience of immigrant women . If you can provide input or know someone that can, please consider participating or sharing the QR code. Participation is completely voluntary and all information will be kept confidential. Thank you!

Did you know? GALA’s school name is Girls Academic Leadership Academy Dr. Michelle King School for STEM. Dr. King was the first African-American woman to serve as Superintendent for the nation’s second largest school district and championed the creation of our school. We have a memorial bench in her honor at the school’s entrance. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1245043614261167 ❤️🖤💚

GALA is providing FREE SAT prep to our high school scholars, removing financial barriers and ensuring every young woman has access to the tools she needs to succeed.

From strategy sessions to practice exams and test books, our students are sharpening their skills, building confidence, and preparing to compete for college admissions and scholarships — without families having to pay out of pocket.

Because when we invest in girls, we invest in futures. 💫
And at GALA, we make sure our scholars are ready.